After Killing People, It's Time to Run

Su Fan packed up his stall and left the market town.

For the time being, he didn't plan on setting up a stall again. He wanted to see how things developed.

Su Fan had a feeling that the Qiankun Society wasn't up to anything good.

He thought things through, and just a few days later, someone showed up at his door.

Su Fan opened the door and found several Talisman Masters from the open-air market standing outside.

The one in the lead was named Fei Tong. He was at the Mid Qi Refining Stage and was somewhat famous in the market town for his profound understanding of talismans.

"What brings you gentlemen here today...?"

Fei Tong cupped his hands and said, "Fan Talisman Master, we've come uninvited today because we want to discuss something with you, fellow cultivator."

Su Fan quickly invited them inside.

After listening to Fei Tong and the others' account, he understood the whole story.

The Qiankun Society had manipulated the market, causing talisman prices to rise. The Talisman Masters were initially quite pleased.

As the Talisman Masters increased their prices, the shops in the market town followed suit, causing the Rogue Cultivators to grumble endlessly.

However, the Talisman Masters were only happy for two days before they were informed again that the Qiankun Society would purchase a batch of talismans from them each month at only seventy percent of the previous price.

If they wanted to set up stalls in the open-air market, they had to accept this condition, or they wouldn't be allowed to operate in the market at all.

How could the Talisman Masters in the market town accept such exploitation? Thus, led by Fei Tong, they prepared to go on strike collectively.

They also planned to organize and report the Qiankun Society's wicked deeds to the Qingxuan Sect.

"Fan Talisman Master, all the Talisman Masters in the market town are planning to gather at my home tomorrow to discuss how to resist the Qiankun Society's wicked deeds. We hope you can attend on time."

Su Fan thought for a moment and replied, "Alright, I will definitely be there tomorrow."

Fei Tong and the others gave a few more instructions before bidding farewell and leaving.

Watching their retreating figures, Su Fan shook his head.

The Qiankun Society had indeed gone too far. Offending all the Talisman Masters in the market town was bound to incur the wrath of the masses.

He had to go tomorrow. After all, he still planned to make a living in the market town. If he didn't participate now, his reputation in the market town would be ruined.

The next day, Su Fan arrived at Fei Tong's home.

He saw a crowd gathered at the entrance. Besides many Talisman Masters, there were also several disciples from the Qingxuan Sect.

Su Fan frowned, a bad premonition stirring within him.

As he walked over, a few Talisman Masters he knew surrounded him.

"Last night, Fei Tong's entire family was murdered. The Qingxuan Sect's enforcement team ruled it was the work of Bandit Cultivators."

"I think it must have been the Qiankun Society. What a coincidence..."

"Right, we'll go to the Qingxuan Sect to demand an explanation later..."

"If the Qingxuan Sect doesn't give us an explanation, we'll go on strike..."

Their faces were filled with grief and indignation as they passionately denounced the Qiankun Society.

Su Fan's expression turned grim. This matter was definitely related to the Qiankun Society.

He hadn't expected the Qiankun Society to be so ruthless as to slaughter Fei Tong's entire family.

This was clearly a case of killing the chicken to scare the monkeys.

Going to the Qingxuan Sect to demand an explanation at this point would be useless.

The sect disciples responsible for managing the market town had likely received too many benefits from the Qiankun Society to speak up for the Talisman Masters.

Moreover, some of the Talisman Masters in the market town had surely been bought off by the Qiankun Society.

Despite their righteous indignation now, these Talisman Masters would be picked off one by one by the Qiankun Society within a few days.

After lingering at Fei Tong's doorstep for a while, Su Fan made an excuse and left.

Su Fan had no intention of getting involved in what happened next.

The Qiankun Society had no bottom line in their actions, and who knew what else they might do.

It was fine if he didn't set up stalls in the market town anymore. At worst, he could sell his talismans to the shops. He would just earn less, and besides, he had acquired them at a low price anyway.

If he couldn't afford to offend them, couldn't he just avoid them?

For the next month, Su Fan barely left his home.

He spent his days cultivating and drawing talismans.

Ye Tianhe would visit from time to time. They would have a drink at noon, and in the afternoon, they would practice swordplay in the small courtyard.

Practicing swordplay with the Sword Maniac, Su Fan's swordsmanship improved remarkably quickly.

Furthermore, away from the hustle and bustle of the market town, Su Fan's talisman-drawing skills advanced by leaps and bounds.

He had now mastered the production of over a dozen types of low-grade talismans, and his success rate was quite high.

With an ample supply of mid-grade talismans, Su Fan had no intention of earning Spirit Stones from low-grade talismans.

He no longer set up a stall, so he regularly delivered the low-grade Talismans he had accumulated to the shops in the Market Town.

Although the profit was a little less, it also saved him time and worry.

Su Fan had already begun researching mid-grade Talismans and was practicing diligently on Xuan paper, making rapid progress.

Anyway, he had been quite comfortable during this period.

His days passed leisurely and freely.

Su Fan felt that he finally had a bit of the demeanor of a cultivator.

One day, he got up early. After finishing his cultivation of the Primordial Chaos Technique, he was about to make breakfast when he heard someone knocking on his door.

Su Fan walked into the courtyard and opened the door, only to see several people standing outside.

They all had stern expressions, and by the looks of them, they weren't good people.

Su Fan frowned and cupped his hands, "May I ask who you are...?"

The leader was a cultivator at the fifth layer of Qi Refining. He had a rough appearance, a face full of stubble, a bulbous nose, and extremely fierce eyes.

He pushed Su Fan aside and walked directly into the courtyard. He looked around before glancing back at Su Fan.

"You're a Talisman Master, aren't you?"

Upon hearing this, Su Fan guessed their origin – they must be from the Qiankun Society.

Damn it, they were bullying him on his doorstep.

"Yes, I am..."

"I heard your talisman-making skills are good. Why aren't you setting up a stall in the Market Town anymore?"

Hearing him say this, Su Fan immediately understood their intention.

A trace of anger rose in his heart.

Whether I set up a stall or not is none of your business.

"I only know how to draw a few low-grade Talismans. My skills are still far from good."

The burly man chuckled coldly, "How come I heard you used to sell mid-grade Talismans?"

Su Fan said with a pained expression, "I was just helping a friend sell them on consignment. He has left the Market Town now, so I have no livelihood."

"We are from the Qiankun Society. You can still draw low-grade Talismans, right? We'll buy your Talismans from now on."

"That won't do. The Talismans I draw have already been ordered by a shop."

Before the burly man could reply, someone next to him glared.

"What are you babbling about? Don't you want to do business in the Market Town anymore..."

Su Fan took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in his heart.

"What you're saying... I'm just a poor Talisman painter. I rely on the Market Town."

The burly man glanced at the courtyard again and said with a smile, "We'll talk about the Talismans later. I think your courtyard is quite nice. Are you planning to sell it?"

Hearing the burly man's words, the people next to him all laughed.

The fire in Su Fan's heart flared up uncontrollably.

Damn it, I've tolerated you for a long time.

Not only are you bullying me on my doorstep, but you're also eyeing my house. How can I stand this?

Su Fan put on a stern face and waved his hand at them.

"I can't accept your offer for my Talismans, and I have no intention of selling my house. Please leave."

"You're courting death..."

The people next to him immediately became enraged and were about to rush forward, but the burly man stopped them.

He looked at Su Fan sinisterly and cupped his hands.

"Since fellow Daoist says so, we won't disturb you any further. Goodbye..."

Watching their retreating backs, Su Fan sneered in his heart.

It was one thing to buy his Talismans at a low price, but they also wanted to seize his house. How could they bully someone like this?

Now, even if he wanted to endure it, he couldn't. They not only wanted his wealth but also his life.

Fei Tong's entire family had just been massacred. How could they possibly let him go? Tonight would not be peaceful.

Since you're looking for death, don't blame me for being ruthless.

He had killed cultivators at the Mid Qi Refining Stage before, and more than one.

He had only enjoyed a few days of peace, and now these people had ruined it.

Living in the world of cultivation, why was it so difficult?

Forget it, I shouldn't stay in Shaoyang Market Town. After I kill these people tonight, I'll abandon this house.

I'll change my identity and leave Shaoyang Market Town on the nearest flying ship.

I need to find a quiet place to cultivate in peace.

As for Ye Tianhe, I never even considered telling him about these troublesome matters.

If I had offended the Demonic Sect, I could have asked him for help.

But this matter involves the Qingxuan Sect, so it's hard to say.

Even though we got along well, he's still a disciple of the Sword Sect. Why should he stick his neck out for a lowly rogue cultivator like me?

It's best to part on good terms, and perhaps forge a good connection.

Su Fan began packing his belongings, storing all important items into his storage bag.

He then affixed several Mother-Child Warning Talismans to the outer courtyard wall.

He glanced up at the sky, observing the weather. It looked like it might rain tonight.

Night fell, dark and windy.

There was no bright moon or stars tonight, only a dark sky.

A strong wind whipped through the leaves, rustling them noisily. Dark clouds rolled like waves, and the air felt unusually heavy.

In the night sky, lightning in the shape of snakes tore through the dense, dark clouds, appearing and disappearing intermittently.

CRACK!

A bolt of lightning split the dark night, momentarily turning the world a stark white.

Su Fan sat cross-legged indoors, hearing the distant thunder and the patter of heavy rain.

With such a downpour, those guys probably wouldn't come tonight.

I can't wait any longer, I'll just get some sleep first.

But before he could lie down, the Mother-Child Warning Talisman on his waist suddenly grew scorching hot.

Su Fan stood up, took out an Adamantine Talisman, and slapped it onto himself.

Then, he drew his magic sword, held his breath, and hid behind the door.

Outside, lightning flashed and thunder roared, while raindrops the size of beans poured down.

Several figures wearing conical hats stood in the courtyard.

The leader was the burly man, a former bandit cultivator known for his ruthless and brutal nature, who had been recruited by the Qiankun Society's leader.

He had taken a liking to Su Fan's courtyard during the day.

Despite the torrential rain, he couldn't resist coming tonight.

In his eyes, dealing with a mere Qi Refining Third Layer cultivator wouldn't require his personal intervention; he could easily take him down.

"Big Tiger, go in and kill that kid for me..."

A rogue cultivator behind him, holding a magic sword, stepped forward.

He kicked open the door and charged into the room.

BANG!!

A figure flew out from inside the house, soaring over their heads and crashing heavily at the base of the courtyard wall.

Immediately after, someone rushed out of the house.

"Not good..."

The burly man retreated several steps, patted his storage bag, and pulled out a long sword magic tool.

SWISH!!

Before he could even attack with his sword, the other party had already swung theirs.

Without thinking, the burly man raised his magic sword to block.

BANG!!

He felt a tremendous force, and the magic sword in his hand flew out.

His body was also sent flying by the impact, crashing to the ground in the courtyard with a thud.

As the burly man tried to get up, he saw a flash of electricity at the other person's feet, and they were already in front of him.

A flash of sword light, and his head flew into the air.

From the moment Su Fan emerged to the moment he severed the burly man's head, it took only an instant.

The people beside him were so stunned they didn't even react.

It wasn't until the burly man's head flew off that they charged forward with terrified expressions.

"Kill him and avenge our boss..."

After killing the burly man, who was at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer, the remaining few followers at the early Qi Refining stage were no match for him.

With a few flashes of sword light, the courtyard was soon littered with dismembered limbs.

Su Fan stood in the howling rain, sword in hand, gasping for breath.

"Such insignificant trash dares to bully me..."

He walked to the side of the burly man, took the storage bag from his waist, and then cleaned up the battlefield.

After killing them, it was time to run.

Su Fan cast one last look at the familiar small courtyard.

What a nice house, what a shame.

Su Fan shook his head and turned to leave the courtyard.

Suddenly, he noticed a person standing on the courtyard wall, though he didn't know when they had gotten there.